The Rhine River, a vital artery for European logistics, has reached record low levels due to unprecedented drought and heat, raising alarms for the European economy.
Disruptions in cargo shipping and soaring raw material transport costs are affecting tourism and energy supply, intensifying concerns about climate change's impact on various sectors across Europe.
According to Yonhap News and the BBC, the Rhine River at Cologne in western Germany and the Lobith point in the Netherlands has recorded its lowest water levels since monitoring began. The German Federal Waterways Authority forecasts that the official water level in Cologne could drop to 67 cm this weekend, surpassing the previous record set in 2018.
At a small dock in Cologne's Rheinauhafen, dozens of boats have been stranded on the riverbed for four weeks. A local boat club official stated, "The current water depth is only about 30 cm, and this level of drought is unprecedented since 2018."
The Cologne water level gauge, which has been measuring since 1816, indicated a level between 0 and 1 today. The average water level here is about 3 meters, meaning the river's flow has decreased by more than 2 meters compared to normal years.
The Rhine flows approximately 1,233 km from the Swiss Alps to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, serving as Europe's largest inland waterway for transporting key raw materials for German manufacturing. Normally, around 400 cargo ships navigate the river daily, but due to low water levels, vessels are forced to reduce their cargo significantly or split loads across smaller ships.
At the Kaub observation point in western Germany, navigable water depth fell to 25 cm last week, matching the 2018 record low. The BBC noted that this point is a critical benchmark for determining cargo capacity, warning that reduced transport volumes could lead to increased logistics costs and supply chain bottlenecks.
A spokesperson from the German Waterways and Shipping Authority told the BBC, "While Rhine navigation will not be completely halted, measures such as distributing cargo across multiple vessels will be necessary." A raw material trader expressed concern to Reuters, stating, "There may come a point where the loading capacity is so low that it becomes economically unviable."
The tourism sector is also feeling the effects. KD, the largest river cruise operator in the Rhine region, has suspended operations of large cruise ships due to safety concerns, allowing only limited operations of smaller vessels. Passengers have been warned to exercise caution due to the steep incline of the access paths between the docks and the boats.
Economic repercussions are becoming evident. According to Yonhap News, German steelmaker Thyssenkrupp reduced its molten iron production last month due to supply disruptions along the Rhine. Gasoline and diesel prices in regions near the Rhine have risen by as much as 11 euro cents (approximately $0.11) per liter compared to other areas.
German think tanks predict that the drought could lower economic growth by as much as 0.4 percentage points, while Berenberg Bank forecasts a temporary increase of 0.5 percentage points in consumer prices.
The issue extends beyond the Rhine. The BBC reported that the Danube River has also recorded its lowest levels in 30 years in Serbia and Romania, prompting Hungary's only nuclear power plant to reduce output. Serbia has cut coal-fired power generation due to a lack of cooling water, while Romania has blasted riverbank rocks to increase water flow to its nuclear plant. Romanian automakers Dacia and Ford have decided to halt factory operations for over two weeks to reduce electricity consumption.
Italy's longest river, the Po, also recorded its lowest levels near Cremona at the end of last month. Authorities have raised the drought alert to 'high' across the Po Valley, with seawater intruding into the river, causing severe damage to ecosystems and agricultural water supplies, according to the BBC.
The EU Drought Observatory has reported that drought conditions remain severe across much of Europe, with worsening conditions in the central and western regions since mid-July. The German Low Water Information System (NIWIS) reported that as of the end of July, 44% of Rhine observation points and 78% of Danube observation points recorded extremely low water levels.
Climate experts analyze that the current drought is exacerbated more by increased evaporation due to rising temperatures than by long-term reductions in precipitation. Researchers from World Weather Attribution have indicated that human-induced climate change is increasing the likelihood of droughts, suggesting that heatwaves and water shortages could pose long-term burdens on the European economy and industry.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.